Elizabeth Trentham, Countess of Oxford
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth de Vere, Countess of Oxford, formerly Elizabeth Trentham (born circa 1562/3 - died circa December 1612), was the second wife of the Elizabethan courtier and poet Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford
.
in Staffordshire, the eldest daughter of Thomas Trentham
and Jane Sneyd. Her father's will, made on 19 October 1586, mentions his son and heir, Francis, another son, Thomas, and three daughters, Elizabeth, Dorothy and Katherine. Elizabeth's brother Francis married Katherine, the daughter of Sir Ralph Sheldon of Beoley, and carried on the family line. Her younger brother, Thomas, died unmarried in 1605. Elizabeth's two sisters were already married when Thomas Trentham made his will in 1586, Dorothy to William Cooper of Thurgarton, and Katherine to Sir John Stanhope.
Thomas Trentham reputation in the county is indicated by his appointment by the Privy Council
, as one of the "principal gentlemen in Staffordshire", to accompany the Scottish Queen Mary from her Staffordshire exile to her trial at Fotheringay Castle in 1586 (a trial at which the Earl of Oxford sat on the jury).
for at least ten years, and was known at court as a beauty. She was still listed as a Maid of Honour on the subsidy roll of 10 November 1590. However in 1591 Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, whose first wife, Anne Cecil, had died on 5 June 1588, entered into a number of legal agreements with Elizabeth's brother, Francis Trentham, and others for the purpose of providing a jointure for Elizabeth. The couple were married, at the latest, by 27 December of that year, at which time the Queen bestowed a gift on the new Countess at her marriage. Elizabeth Trentham brought her husband a dowry of £1000 bequeathed to her in her father's will, payable at the rate of 500 marks a year for three years. The newly married couple resided Stoke-Newington, where their son, Henry de Vere, was born on 24 February 1593.
On 2 September 1597 the Queen granted licence to the executors of Sir Rowland Hayward to sell King's Place in Hackney
in north London to Elizabeth Trentham, her brother Francis Trentham, her uncle Ralph Sneyd, and her cousin, Giles Yonge. The purchase was likely made in the name of the Countess in order to safeguard the property from possible suits by Oxford's creditors. King's Place was a substantial country manor house with a celebrated great hall, a classic Tudor long gallery, a chapel and "a proper lybrayre to laye bokes in"; the land comprised orchards and fine gardens and some 270 acres (1.1 km²) of farmland. It would remain their principal London home until Oxford's death on 24 June 1604, the Countess finally removing in 1609 after selling King's Place to Fulke Greville.
In 1591 Oxford had sold Castle Hedingham
, the de Vere family seat from the time of William the Conqueror, to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
in trust for Oxford's three daughters by his first wife, Anne Cecil, Elizabeth
, Bridget
and Susan. In 1608/9, Elizabeth Trentham repurchased Castle Hedingham from Oxford's daughters for her son, Henry de Vere (1593–1625), 18th Earl of Oxford.
Elizabeth Trentham's letters to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
reveal a sharp-minded, independent woman at ease with legal and business matters.
Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford
Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford was an Elizabethan courtier, playwright, lyric poet, sportsman and patron of the arts, and is currently the most popular alternative candidate proposed for the authorship of Shakespeare's works....
.
Family and early years
Elizabeth Trentham was born circa 1562/3 at RocesterRocester
Rocester is a village and civil parish in the East Staffordshire district of Staffordshire, England. Its name is spelt Rowcestre in the Domesday Book.-Geography:...
in Staffordshire, the eldest daughter of Thomas Trentham
Thomas Trentham
Thomas Trentham was an English politician and Privy Councillor.He was the son of Richard Trentham of Rocester Abbey, who died in 1547....
and Jane Sneyd. Her father's will, made on 19 October 1586, mentions his son and heir, Francis, another son, Thomas, and three daughters, Elizabeth, Dorothy and Katherine. Elizabeth's brother Francis married Katherine, the daughter of Sir Ralph Sheldon of Beoley, and carried on the family line. Her younger brother, Thomas, died unmarried in 1605. Elizabeth's two sisters were already married when Thomas Trentham made his will in 1586, Dorothy to William Cooper of Thurgarton, and Katherine to Sir John Stanhope.
Thomas Trentham reputation in the county is indicated by his appointment by the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
, as one of the "principal gentlemen in Staffordshire", to accompany the Scottish Queen Mary from her Staffordshire exile to her trial at Fotheringay Castle in 1586 (a trial at which the Earl of Oxford sat on the jury).
Later years and marriage
Elizabeth was Maid of Honour to Queen ElizabethElizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
for at least ten years, and was known at court as a beauty. She was still listed as a Maid of Honour on the subsidy roll of 10 November 1590. However in 1591 Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, whose first wife, Anne Cecil, had died on 5 June 1588, entered into a number of legal agreements with Elizabeth's brother, Francis Trentham, and others for the purpose of providing a jointure for Elizabeth. The couple were married, at the latest, by 27 December of that year, at which time the Queen bestowed a gift on the new Countess at her marriage. Elizabeth Trentham brought her husband a dowry of £1000 bequeathed to her in her father's will, payable at the rate of 500 marks a year for three years. The newly married couple resided Stoke-Newington, where their son, Henry de Vere, was born on 24 February 1593.
On 2 September 1597 the Queen granted licence to the executors of Sir Rowland Hayward to sell King's Place in Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
in north London to Elizabeth Trentham, her brother Francis Trentham, her uncle Ralph Sneyd, and her cousin, Giles Yonge. The purchase was likely made in the name of the Countess in order to safeguard the property from possible suits by Oxford's creditors. King's Place was a substantial country manor house with a celebrated great hall, a classic Tudor long gallery, a chapel and "a proper lybrayre to laye bokes in"; the land comprised orchards and fine gardens and some 270 acres (1.1 km²) of farmland. It would remain their principal London home until Oxford's death on 24 June 1604, the Countess finally removing in 1609 after selling King's Place to Fulke Greville.
In 1591 Oxford had sold Castle Hedingham
Castle Hedingham
Castle Hedingham is a small village in northeast Essex, England, located four miles west of Halstead and is situated in the Colne Valley on the ancient road from Colchester, Essex, to Cambridge....
, the de Vere family seat from the time of William the Conqueror, to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572...
in trust for Oxford's three daughters by his first wife, Anne Cecil, Elizabeth
Elizabeth de Vere
Elizabeth de Vere was a member of the renowned and noble de Vere family of Hedingham Castle, being the second daughter of John de Vere, 7th Earl of Oxford and Maud de Badlesmere....
, Bridget
Bridget de Vere
Bridget de Vere, Countess of Berkshire , was an English noblewoman, the daughter of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford. Bridget was brought up by her maternal grandfather, the powerful statesman William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley...
and Susan. In 1608/9, Elizabeth Trentham repurchased Castle Hedingham from Oxford's daughters for her son, Henry de Vere (1593–1625), 18th Earl of Oxford.
Elizabeth Trentham's letters to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, KG, PC was an English administrator and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke...
reveal a sharp-minded, independent woman at ease with legal and business matters.